Q: What is a certified translation?
A: A certified translation is a translation that has been formally verified for use in official purposes. Documents that require certified translation services might include papers that have to be submitted to an immigration department (such as birth and marriage/divorce certificates), official transcripts (such as high school certificates, university degrees, and vocational training certificates), regulatory documents (such as informed consents, protocols, research data forms, and case report forms), patents, and many others.
Q: How can a translation be certified?
A: A translation can be certified in several different ways:
Q: What is a sworn translator?
A: A sworn translator is a professional who has been duly authorized by the government of the country in question to translate and notarize a document. Any translation produced by a sworn translator is an official document in its own right. The translation is certified with a stamped declaration which is written in the relevant language, as well as in English.
Q: Does AKSWARA have sworn translators?
A: AKSWARA collaborates with a wide network of translators/interpreters, some of which are sworn professionals. Should you need the service of a sworn translator/interpreter, we can help facilitate your request.
Q: How does AKSWARA ensure the quality of translation?
A: All translations will undergo a two-step quality assurance process before they are submitted to clients:
If you are unsure of the quality of our translations, you may send us a 1-page document sample for us to translate--free of charge. If the result is to your satisfaction, we would be delighted to work on your translation project.
Q: What are your rates?
A: Please contact us to find out about our competitive rates.
Q: How do you calculate your rates?
A: Please refer to the Rates section for details.
For translation, we use both word rate and page rate. The rate per word is an internationally common pricing method. It is more accurate to charge by the word than by the page. For example, if the source document consists of 2,500 words, then we will charge you for 2,500 words (regardless of how many pages they are). Alternatively, a page rate is less accurate as the word count in a page could be 250 to 600 depending on: font type, font size, line spacing, etc. For example, 2,500 words roughly equal to 8.3 pages (assuming the word count per page is 300). You will be charged for 9 pages because even a single word in a page still counts as 1 page. If the actual word count in a page is less than 300, then the cost per word for
you is lower; if the word count is more than 300, then the cost per word for us is lower.
For interpreting, we use both hourly rate and daily rate. The daily rate applies for an 8-hour work day with 1 hour discount. Overtime will be charged prorate using hourly rate.
Ultimately, it is a matter of preference--some clients prefer word rate, some prefer page rate, some prefer hourly rate, some prefer daily rate--which do you prefer?
Q: In word rate, do you exclude the cost for repetitive words or non-translated words, such as a person's name?
A: No. Our rate is flat for all words. You must understand that translation is all about context. We do not translate word for word. We translate the context within each sentence and each paragraph, whereby those names or repetitive words occur. Thus, those names and repetitive words are part of the entire translation. The rate per word is merely a tool used to measure or to put value on the task performed.
